Fire-escape



llFD Srn'rns ATENT Y FFICE...

JOHN DEMPSTER, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FlRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,582, dated October26, 1897.

Application filed June 1,1897. Serial No. 638,973. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN DEMPSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firedilscapes; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in fire-escapes; and it consists in thenovel features hereinafter described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which I havecontemplated embodying my invention, and said invention is fullydisclosed in the following description and claims. 7

Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation,partly in section, of my improved lire-escape, showing it in position topermit the free passage of the rope through the same. Fig. 2 is asimilar View of the device, showing the position occupied by the partswhen the rope is under tension. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view ofthe device.

The device consists, essentially, of a pair of blocks pivotally mountedside by side in a 7 frame provided with hand-grips or arms, one

of said blocks being provided with passages extending through ittransversely at different angles for the'passage of the rope, which isthus compelled to take a tortuous course.

In the drawings I have shown the frame consisting of a yoke or link A,having a central aperture a and provided at each end with hand-grips a0, for operating the same. In the aperture a are pivoted thefriction-block 13, provided with inclined rope-passages 19, passingthrough said block transversely in oppositelyinclined directions, andthe clamping-block B, said blocks being shown as secured in position inthe yoke by pivot-bolts b b. The passages 71 b are disconnected on theinner side of the block 13, (in this instance they are shown asdisconnected on both sides,) so that portions of the rope will liebetween the two blocks B B, as indicated at Z1 b and may be clampedbetween them to increase the tension on the rope, which is normallyimparted to it in passing through the tortuous passages of the block 13.The clamping-block B is provided at each end with a securing device (inthis instance an aperture 19 adapted to receive a detachable belt,strap, or other suspending device C. In this instance I show a belt C,provided with a hook 0, adapted to be inserted in either of the holes b11 I also prefer to provide the block B at each end with an aperture bas shown, for a purpose heroinafter explained. g

In using the device the rope D is secured to a stationary object afterbeing passed through the passages of the block 13, the operator passesthe belt 0 around his body, and the hook c is placed in the loweraperture b after which he swings himself free. The weight of theoperator will draw the clamping-block B downward into the position shownin Fig. 2, and will thus clamp the rope D so tightly that it will eithernot allow the device to slip on the rope at all, or if at all at a veryslow speed. The operator by taking hold of the handles a a and bringingthe yoke into a substantially horizontal position can relieve thetension on the rope, so as to permit the rope to pass more freelythrough block B, and the speed of the descent can thus be regulated veryaccurately by the operator.

It will be noted that the weight of the operator tends to clamp the ropemore tightly, and he exerts his strength merely to relieve the tensionsufficiently to secure an easy descent. In this way the operator is notobliged to apply the tension with his hands, thus rendering theoperation of the device very accurate, positive, and easily controlled.

The device can be used in either direction by changing the hook c fromone of the holes 5 to the other. If it is desired to lower a person bymeans of the rope, this can be done by securing the belt to a stationarysupport and fastening one end of the rope around the person to belowered. In this case the downward pull upon the rope will draw theblock B down and clamp the rope tightly between the two blocks, and thetension can be relieved by the lowering party by operating the yoke A toseparate the two blocks.

If the operator prefers to apply the tension directly, it may be doneeither in lowering himself or another person by changing the belt fromone of the holes I) to the corresponding hole I) in the block B, whenthe operator will by means of the yoke A draw the block 13 into clampingcontact with the rope D. I prefer, however, that the device should beused with the belt attached to the block B for the reasons stated.

If the person to be lowered be insensible from any cause, such personmay be safely lowered by changing the belt from one of the holes 19 inblock B to the corresponding hole b in block B. Thus the weight of theperson to be lowered will be suspended on the opposite side of the ropeD, and will consequently not cause a clamping of the friction-block uponthe rope, and the rate of descent can in this case be governed by aperson or persons on the ground below pulling on the rope D and makingit taut, and thus preventing the too rapid sliding thereof through thetortuous passages 12 b in the block B, this means, however, to be usedonly in the case of persons who have been overcome by heat or smoke andwho are themselves incapable of operating the locking device, as beforedescribed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let- 3 ters Patent, is

1. A fire-escape comprisingamongits members, a yoke, a pair of blockspivoted centrally side by side in said yoke, which forms the. onlyconnection between them, one only of said blocks being provided withrope-passages terminating at separated points on the inner side of saidblock and a supporting device secured to the other block, substantiallyas described.

2. A fire-escape comprising among its members a yoke having a handle ateach end, a pair of blocks pivoted centrally side by side in said yoke,one only of said blocks being provided with rope-passages terminating atseparated points on the inner side of said block, a detachablesupporting device secured normally to the other block, both of saidblocks being provided at each end with means for engaging the saidsupporting device, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN DEMPSTER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BROWN, JAs. I-l. WELCKER.

